About Bear Burning AshesUpdated 07/24/17 Imagine a Klingon-style, honorable, "good day to die" sort of mentality. I mean, come on, a Warpriest of Gorum? Those two were made to go with each other. • He truly is an Indestructible Master of War.
LET COWARDS FLEE:
"It is not Gorum's way to hunt down the weak. Conflict is most glorious when rivals are equal in STRENGTH. The other day we were ambushed by Goblins! The little beasts fought with courage, until only one remained. When he fled past me, GORUM told me not to swing. And for my obedience I was REWARDED! The scrawling creature brought back mighty warriors and an evil warlock for us to fight, and the battle was GLORIOUS! Let it be known from this day forth that cowards have nothing to fear from Bear Burning Ashes!" WHAT IS A NAME?:
"In the heat of battle against a worthy opponent, one must always give his NAME, and ask for theirs. Gorum's hall is not guarded by the nameless. Only those whom HE has heard may earn a place there. One's name contains power. When the mighty cave lion utters a ROAR, it is telling you its name. When the eagle calls from the treetops, it is telling you its name. Why would a warrior not do the same during his most glorious moment, on the field of BATTLE?" LET YOUR ALLIES REVEL IN BATTLE:
"Have you ever watched two hare fight over a mate? It is quite humorous. They have no fangs, they have no claws, and yet each is terrified of the other. If one was your friend, how easy it would be to SQUASH the other with your hammer. But that is not the way of Gorum. Our Lord in Iron teaches that each must make their way in the world. When your ally strikes steel with one that is no threat to you, allow your friend to prove themself worthy of Gorum's praise. Only through CONFLICT such as this may the world remain strong." ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WORD:
"We Shoanti are often looked down upon by those that call themselves more 'civilized'. They hold their noses when we drink our kumis, or they tell us our klars would be better made of metal, but the one thing they would not ask us to change are the promises we keep. When a Shoanti gives his word, people across the seas recognize it for its value. The rare individual who breaks his word is swiftly pounded by a hundred earth breakers to show the world that we as a people uphold our word above all else. When I give you my word, you may trust that it is genuine." THE SHOANTI HAVE A SAYING...:
• "What doesn't kill you... Makes for a great story."
EVERY SHOANTI HAS ONE FEAR:
"Those that have seen Shoanti on the battlefield call us fearless, but this is only partly true. Every Shoanti is born with one fear. It may be heights. It might be wolves. My Brother was scared of water. Whatever it may be, every Shoanti warrior will face their fear during their Quest for Klar. Regardless of whether they overcome that fear and survive, or fail and perish, the Shoanti people are stronger because of it."
"For me, I was terribly afraid of fire. As a child I always hid from the great bonfires while the elders told their stories, afraid that the slightest spark might set me aflame. Fitting it was, then, that during my Quest I faced no mere Lizard but a fire-breathing wyrmling! After our battle I gazed upon my charred wounds in the reflection of a mountain pool and knew that I had no more reason to fear any flame, ever again." 10 Questions That Will Make Your PFS Roleplaying Blossom:
1. Why are you a Pathfinder?
"It was Pathfinders that rescued me from my enslavement in Irrisen, and as my gratitude I serve them now. They endeavor to remove artifacts of powerful magic from the world, which I believe to be a good cause, and the conflicts I often find myself in bring glory to Gorum's name." 2. Do you have a name and surname that is not ripped straight out of existing Earth mythology or popular culture? "My family name is for my family alone to use, so I shall not repeat it here. 'Bear Burning Ashes' was given to me by our Quah elder upon my return from my Quest for Klar. It does annoy me when I give my name and outsiders shorten it to simply 'Bear', but they do not know our ways, and so I forgive them. Many Shoanti never truly understand the names they are given until later in their lives. I believe mine refers to my persistence at whatever task I am given, though I am sure it will come to me in a dream the morning before I die." 3. Which nation did you grow up in? How did this nation influence you? "I am of the Shadde-Quah. I hail from the Calphiak Mountains in the northwest of what others call the 'Nation of Varisia'. It is a cold place patrolled by Giants, Trolls, and Goblins, but nowhere else on Golarion are the walruses as fat and juicy, so I gladly call this place my home." 4. What do you look like? What are your wearing? How does this vary when you’re stalking through forests, sewers, deserts or in glittering cities? "I am average height for a Shoanti warrior. When I am with my tribe, I do not stand out. To do so brings unwanted attention. I shave my head every morning with a sharp blade and ox fat. Hair is a bothersome distraction. My skin is venerated with the stories of a dozen adventures and important moments of my life, including my enslavement. I dress appropriately for the environment, for the Society sends me to all manner of climates." 5. What do you love? (Treasure and experience doesn’t count) "I live for the fervor of a heated battle, the songs of warriors striking steel against steel, and helping usher worthy opponents into the Halls of Gorum. When there are no battles to fight I enjoy the warmth of a large fire, the roasted meat of an old walrus, and the intimate company of one (or two) of my fellow warriors." 6. What do you hate? (Unclear and irritating darkness level rules don’t count) "I have great disdain for needless slaughter. Gorum teaches that conflict is greatest when rivals are equal in strength. Slavery is likewise worth abhorring. If one cannot live a free life, how can they venerate Gorum on the field of battle?" 7. Which other Pathfinders (PCs) do you rely on for teamwork, survival and butt-kicking? Do you have a bro? a mentor? a father figure? maybe a rival? "I have adventured with Sir Reginald Bloat, a Paladin of Iomedae, if I am not mistaken, more so than any other Pathfinders. Neither of us wish to be the last to flee, and so we have never fled a battle together. He is the better diplomat for those times when an Earth Breaker cannot achieve the answers we seek." 8. How does your race influence your views? Are you a stereotype of a certain race? How are you different from most humans/elves/gnomes/orcs/tengu? "Shoanti know persecution as few other humans do. For thousands of years we have fought to maintain our homeland, bringing the fury of Thunder and Fang against the mechanical 'wonders' of those that would oppress us. To stray from this responsibility would mean that I was no longer Shoanti, so if a 'stereotype' you would call me, I will embrace it with pride. I do tend to have more of an interest in the tongues of foreigners than many of my brethren, however, and I am told I speak 'elegantly'. I have learned the languages of all the northern tribes, and even that of the Goblins. It helps to know the name of the warrior you are striking steel with." 9. What are you afraid of? Do you have any phobias or worries? "Every warrior fears growing old and weak and slowly dying in his bed, a burden to those he once protected. I am confident that so long as I bring glory to Gorum on the field of battle He will bless me with a hard-fought death." 10. What is your most treasured possession? Of all the weapons I would wish to defend Gorum's Hall with when He calls me to do so, my Klar would be the first I reach for. Many warriors trek into the mountains to hunt the Spirestalker Lizards, for they are formidable opponents and their flesh is most savory after a long battle, but I came across none during my Quest for Klar. Instead I was met with a foul tempered, fire-breathing creature with wings and a wit for tactics that rivaled my own. I tracked the beast to its lair, and our battle was GLORIOUS! His horned skull adorns my arm now, and it accompanies me wherever I go." BLESSINGS: EQUIPMENT: +2 Adamantine Earth Breaker (with Fortifying Stone attached)
IOUN STONES: Cracked Pale Green Prism (x2)
FEATS: 1st - Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (Earth Breaker)
TRAITS: Fate's Favored
REFERENCES: • For PFS, anybody can cast deity-specific spells, such as Shield of the Dawnflower or Mighty Strength |
